Iran is considering charging European countries for services in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a proposal to reopen this strategically important waterway. This was reported by The Telegraph.
According to the publication, the proposal, which is not yet finalized, envisions the creation of a "voluntary fund" financed by Gulf countries and some European members of the International Maritime Organization.
Sources from Gulf countries and Europe told The Telegraph that the proposed voluntary payments would help cover costs for navigation management, environmental protection, search and rescue operations, and other services provided in the Strait of Hormuz.
The publication estimates that if an agreement is reached, it could resolve a serious political issue for Donald Trump, allowing the restoration of shipping and oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz after months of rising oil prices and economic shocks.
The Telegraph has learned that Oman previously rejected Iran's proposal to create a joint fee collection system, as it contradicts the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea — the fundamental document of international maritime law, which Oman has ratified, but Iran has not.
The program proposed by Oman is based on the existing mechanisms of the Malacca Strait. This strait connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore offer ships voluntary payments for services rendered.
Oman concluded that countries and shipowners dependent on energy supplies from the Gulf would be willing to voluntarily contribute to this fund. The Telegraph estimates that European countries most dependent on oil and liquefied natural gas imports from the region include Italy, Belgium, and France.
According to the publication, the potential restoration of the Strait of Hormuz as a reliable energy route, along with Iran's demand for fees, has led several leading European countries to begin acknowledging that vessels passing through the strait may be required to pay certain fees to Iran and Oman.
A source from The Telegraph at the UN reported that this proposal has not yet been officially presented to any of the 176 member states of the International Maritime Organization, including Iran, Oman, and the USA.
